Spin control for centrifugal extractor

ABSTRACT

An access lid of a centrifugal extractor is manually movable for interrupting motor energizaton and for effecting engagement of a brake with a surface of the rotatable fabric container to reduce the speed of the spinning container responsive to initial movement of the lid from an access-closing position.

o United States Patent 1191 1111 3,747,841 Ross July 24, 1973 [5 SPINCONTROL FOR CENTRIFUGAL 3,691,645 9/1972 Nethersell 192/136 EXTRACTOR1,865,584 7/1932 Perry .4 233/1 B 3,539,011 11/1970 Hopkins 210/146 1Inventor: F nk E- R S,Newton. lowa 1,797,602 I 3/1931 Bryson 233 1 BAssigneez The y g p y Newton 2,745,217 5/1956 Gold et a1. 233/1 R 1 IowaPrimary Examiner,George H. Krizmanich [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1971Attorney-William G. Landwier et a1.

21 A LN 202 796 1 pp 0 57 ABSTRACT An access lid of a centrifugalextractor is manually [55,2] 5 zg if g g movable for interrupting motorenergizaton and for ef- 1] '3 R 23 A fecting engagement of a brake witha surface of the ro- [5 8] Flew o I l tatable fabric container to reducethe speed of the spin- 233/24 8 210/1 ning container responsiye toinitial movement of the References Cited 11d from an access-closingpositlon.

UNITED STATES'PATENTS 11/1971 Smith 192/136 12 Claims, 3 Drawing FiguresBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a brake for a centrifugal extractor and more particularly toa brake actuated by a lid and directly engageable with the spinningcontainer to effect a braking thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art The nature of a centrifugal extractordictates, in the interest of safety, that rotation of the spinner orcontainer be controlled to prevent access thereto during high speedrotation. In a centrifugal extractor a container, in this application afabric container, is driven at relatively high centrifugal speeds toremove liquid from the articles contained in the spinner. Because of thehigh speed it is of course desirable to prevent an encounter with thespinner or its contents while it is driven at extraction speeds.

Prior art disclosures in the area of centrifugal extractors disclose anumber of systems for preventing accessto the spinning container. Theseprior art disclosures, however, include relatively complex intermediateactuating mechanisms and'structures for effecting selective clutchingand braking of the container. In some prior art disclosures solenoidsare selectively energizable for effecting either a driving condition ora braking condi- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object ofthe'instantinvention to provide an improved control for a centrifugalextractor to insure a braking of the spinner rotation prior topermitting access to the spinner.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a reliablelow cost manually operable braking system for a centrifugal extractor.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide acentrifugal extractor control system including a lid-actuated brakeengageable with the rotating spinner to insure a braking thereof priorto permitting access to the spinner.

The instant invention achieves these objects in an extractor having alid-actuated brake normally engageable with a surface of the spinner andoperable to a disengaged position responsive to a predeterminedpositioning of the lid on the housing.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof willbecome evident as the description proceeds and from an examination ofthe accompanying page of drawings.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate a preferredembodiment of the invention with similar numerals referring to similarparts throughout the several views wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken generally along the longitudinalvertical axis of a centrifugal extractor embodying the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the centrifugalextractor as taken generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adjustable support member comprisinga portion of the extractor shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown a centrifugal extractor electrically energizable for effectingremoval of liquid from fabrics. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 theextractor is a compact portable apparatus that may be set on a cabinetor counter top for draining extracted liquid into a sink. The extractorincludes the major components ofa base 10, housing 1 1, lid 12,centrifugal spinner 14, and motor 15.

More specifically, the exterior construction includes a base 10supported on a plurality of feet 16 attached to the base by screws 17.The screws 17 and feet 16 cooperate to removably attach a base cover 20to the lower side of the base 10 for substantially closing the bottomportion of the extractor.

Positioned on the base and attached thereto is a housing 11 forenclosing the spinner 14 and motor 15 and for defining a fluidreservoir. The housing 11 includes a generally cylindrical imperforateouter wall 21 extending upwardly to a height approximating that of theupper portion of the spinner 14. The housing 11 further includes animperforate truncated wall 22 spaced inwardly from the outer wall 21.The inner wall 22 is spaced from the axis of the extractor to define amotor cavity 24 along the axis of the extractor. A bottom wall 25connects the inner and outer walls 21 and 22 to form a generally annularfluid reservoir 26. The bottom wall 25 is imperforate except for a firstopening (not shown) connected to the drain hose 27, shown in fragmentaryform in FIG. 1, that conducts the extracted fluid from the reservoir 26to an external drain, and a second opening 28 for accommodating switchoperating mechanism as will be further described hereinafter.

The housing 11 further includes a radially enlarged upper flange 30connected to the outer wall 21 and 'defining an access into the housing11. The upper flange 30 receives an internal annular rim 31 thatencircles the access. Though the apparatus is portable, the housing 11and base 10 may be considered as generally stationary housing means.

The lid 12 has a shallow conical shape extending inwardly and upwardlyto a central upwardly extending handgrip 32. A depending flange 34adjacent the outer periphery of the lid 12 telescopes into the annularrim 31for effectively closing the access opening. The lid 12 furtherincludes a plurality of lugs 35 extending radially outwardly from thedepending flange 34 and, as shown in FIG. 2, mate with vertical slots 36in the rim 31.

At a predetermined vertical orientation of the lugs 35 in the verticalslot 36 the lid 12 is rotatable to effect a detent-type engagement ofthe lug 35 with a shoulder 37 in the annular rim 31 to effectivelyretain the lid 12 in an operative condition. Movement of the lid 12downwardly in the slot 36 also effects engagement of the lug 35 with theupper end of an actuating rod 40 that extends downwardly into the fluidreservoir 26 for effecting a control function. Movement of the lid 12 tothe detent position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, effectively locks theactuator rod 40 in an operative position.

The spinner or fabric container 14 is disposed for rotation on generallythe central axis of the housing 11. The spinner 14 includes animperforate bottom wall 41 and a perforate generally cylindricalupwardly extending outer wall 42 connected to the bottom wall 41 at itslower end and terminating in an inwardly extending rolled flange 44 atthe upper end to form a container for the fabrics. The access of thespinner 14 is defined by the upper flange 44 and is readily convenientfor the loading of fabrics into the spinner 14. The lower portion of thesidewall 42 is offset radially outwardly and formed to an outerdownwardly extending flange of the bottom wall 41 to form a fluiddeflecting flange 45 for directing fluid from the spinner 14 into thefluid reservoir 26. The deflecting flange 45 thus effectively preventsthe flow of liquid into the motor compartment 24.

Disposed within the spinner 14 is a grid-like perforate fabric retainer46. The flexible fabric retainer 46 is placed in the spinner 14 afterthe clothes have been loaded for retaining the fabric in a lower portionof the spinner during centrifugal operation thereof.

The bottom wall 41 of the spinner 14 is attached to a flanged hub 47that is in turn connected to the motor shaft 50 by a urethane plug 52and setscrew 51. The motor is positioned within the compartment 24defined by the inner housing wall 22 on the generally central axis ofthe extractor. The shaded pole fractional horsepower motor 15 isoperable for rotation at approximately 3,500 rpm to effect rotation ofthe spinner 14 at extraction speeds. Disposed below and driven by themotor 15 is a fan 54 for effectively cooling the motor 15 duringextractor operation. An imperforate motor shield 55 is disposed abovethe motor 15 and connected to the hub 47 by a plurality of screws 56.

A brake system is disposed generally between the bottom of the spinner14 and the motor 15. The brake system includes an annular frame 60effectively keyed to the inner housing wall 22 by a plurality of matingsplines 61 disposed around the inner surface of the annular brake frame60 and the outer periphery of the inner wall 22 for permitting axialmovement of the brake frame 60 while preventing rotation movement of thebrake frame 60 relative to the housing 11. The brake system includes abrake pad 62 fixed to the brake frame 60 and engageable with the bottomwall 41 of the spinner 14. The brake frame 60 is biased axially upwardlyfor engagement of the brake pad 62 with the bottom wall 41 of thespinner 14 by a plurality of springs 64 angularly spaced around thebrake frame 60. Each spring 64 is positioned in a cavity 65 defined bythe inner housing wall 22 and is operable on the brake frame 60 fornormally effecting engagement of the brake pad 62 with the surface ofthe bottom wall 41.

As previously indicated, movement of the brake frame 60 is controlled bythe lid 12 through the lid lugs 35 and actuating rods 40. ln thepreferred embodiment, three actuating rods 40 and three springs 64 areoperable on the brake frame 60 to control positioning thereof relativeto the housing 11 and the spinner 14. Movement of the lid 12 to theaccess-closing position shown in FIG. 1 operates through the actuatingrods 40 to depress the brake frame 60 for spacing the brake pad 62 fromthe spinner bottom wall 41 and permitting operation of the spinner 14upon energization of the motor 15.

The motor 15 is connected to an electrical circuit for selectiveenergization thereof to effect operation of the extractor. Included inthe circuit is a control switch positioned within the base 10 andmounted to the housing 11 through a bracket 71 fixed to the underside ofthe housing bottom wall 25. The bracket 71 also supports a plunger guide72 that in turn clamps an aperture-closing seal 74 between the guide 72and the housing bottom wall 25.

The switch 70 is operable from a normally open condition to a closedcondition responsive to downward movement of a plunger 75 slidinglyoperable in the guide 72. The upper end of the plunger 75 extendsthrough the aperture-closing seal 74 in the lower housing wall 25 and isengaged by a depending arm 76 of the brake frame 60 for movement of theplunger 75 and operation of the switch 70 to the closed condition whenthe lid 12 is positioned for disengaging the brake and effectingoperation of the extractor as in FIG. 1. When the lid 12 is moved fromthe operative position, the brake springs 64 move the brake pad 62 intoengagement with the spinner l4 and permit operation of the switch 70 tothe normally open condition.

The lower end of the motor 15 is fixed to a support plate 80 by threadedfasteners (not shown). This support plate 80 includes a plurality ofradially extending arms 81 angularly spaced around the support plate 80and juxtaposed to similarly spaced brackets 82 formed as part of andextending inwardly from the base 10.

Operatively disposed between each of the overlapping support plate arms81 and base brackets 82 is a resilient member 84. A nut and bolt at 85connects one end of the resilient member 84 to the operating assemblythrough the support plate arm 81. The other end of the resilient member80 is connected to the housing bracket 82 through an adjustable member86. The adjustable member 86 is best shown in the perspectiveview ofFIG. 3 and is selectively movable relative to the bracket 82 to effectan adjustment of the orientation of the operating assembly relative tothe housing 11.

The adjustable member 86 is basically a rectangular block with agenerally diagonally oriented slot 87 partially cut into the block toessentially provide a first wedge-shaped member 90 for dispositionbetween the resilient member 84 and the bracket 82 and a connectedsecond wedge-shaped member 91. The diagonal slot 87 extends from therear of the member 86, as in FIG. 3, to receive the bracket 82 and toposition the second wedge-shaped portion 91 therebelow. The adjustablemember 86 further includes a recess 92 that accommodates the connectingbolt 94 extending downwardly from the resilient member 84. The shoulders95 on the upper side of the adjustable member 86 receive the generallysquare lower plate 96 of the resilient member 84 and prevent its turningwhen a nut 97 is tightened onto the bolt 94. As best shown in FIG. 1 theadjustable member 86 is thus horizontally movable in a generally radialdirection on the bracket 82 to move the first wedge-shaped portion 90relative to the housing 11 and operating assembly for effecting a changein the elevation of the supporting plate arm 81 to thereby alter theorientation of the operating assembly relative to the housing 11.

It is seen that as the adjustable member 86 is moved horizontally toreposition the first wedge-shaped portion 90; the operating length ofthe connecting bolt 94 remains substantially constant because of thesecond wedge-shaped portion 91 so that adjustment and tightening of thenut 97 to the bolt 94 is simplified and the requirement for an extendedlength adjustment bolt as used in prior art is avoided.

It is clear that this arrangement will permit raising and lowering ofthe operating assembly by changing all of the mounts and will permitcentering of the operating assembly by changing one or more of themounts by moving the wedge-shaped portion 90 relative to the bracket 82.

Initiation of extractor operation following the placing of fabrics inthe spinner 14, as previously indicated, is controlled by the operator.The operator aligns the lug 35 on the lid 12 with the vertical slot 36and pushes the lid 12 downwardly in an axial direction against thebiasing force of the springs 64 to move the lug 35 through the verticalslot 36. Upon overcoming the biasing force of the springs 64, thevertical movement of the lid 12 effects a downward movement of theactuating rod 40 for moving the brake pad 62 out of engagement with thespinner 14. The terminal movement of the brake frame60 actuatestheswitch 70 to the closed position for energizing the motor 15. The lid12 is then rotated at short angular distance to move the lug 35 intoengagement with the shoulder37 of the annular rim 31 to effectivelylatch the.lid 12 into an operative position.

; The brake is thus released and the motor is ener gized for effectingrotation of the spinner 14 to provide a centrifugal fluid extractionoperation.

To stop the extractor and obtain access to the spinner 14 the process isessentially reversed to effect deenergization of the motor 15 and abraking of the spinner 14. More specifically, the operator first rotatesthe lid 12 a short distance to release the detent and align the lug 35with the vertical slot 36.'The biasing force provided by the brakesprings 64 will move the brake frame 60 in an upwardly direction toeffect braking engagement of the brake pad 62 with the spinner bottomwall 41 and through the actuating rods 40 will move the lid 12 upwardlyto a rest position if released by the operator. The braking engagementof the brake pad 62 with the'spinner l4 brakes or decreases therotational speed of the spinner 14 through a frictional action betweenthe bottom wall 41 of the spinner l4and the brake pad surface. Theinitial movement of the brake frame 60 from the operative positiondeenergizes the motor 15.

The brake system forming the preferred embodiment of this invention isoperable for achieving a braking of the spinner 14 from approximately3,500 rpm to a stop condition in approximately. 2 or 3 seconds. Accessto a centrifugally rotating spinner is thus effectively prevented bythis brake system.

It is thus clearthat the instant invention provides an uncomplicated lowcost yet highly effective and reliable braking system. Operation of theswitch for deenergizing the motor and the engagement of the brakingsurfaces during removal of the lid effectively prevent access to thecontainer while it is centrifugally rotating.

The invention disclosed herein is related to and disclosed in anapplication entitled Supporting System for Centrifugal Extractor filedby Edward O. McCartney as Ser. No. 202,795 on Nov. 29, 1971 and asignedto the assignee of the instant invention.

In the drawings and specification there is set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employedthese are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts aswell as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable containeroperable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articlescontained therein; drive means for rotating said container; controlmeans controlling said drive means to selectively effect rotation ofsaid container; a housing defining a chamber for receiving saidcontainer and defining an opening for access to said container; amovable lid disposed in said opening; brake means disposed at leastpartially within said chamber for engagement with a wall of saidcontainer; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake meanswith said container wall; and means operably connecting said lid to saidcontrol means and said brake means and responsive to movement of saidlid to a predetermined access-closing position for overcoming saidbiasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall andfor actuating said control means to effect operation of said drive meanswhereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiatesrotation of said container.

2. In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said control meansincludes switch means for controlling energization of said drive meansand responsive to movement of said lid to said predeterminedaccessclosing position for actuating said switch means to energize saiddrive means.

3.1n an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brakemeans isspaced from said lid and is juxtaposed to the bottom wall of saidcontainer for engagement therewith. I r

4. In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means isgenerally annular and is associated with said housing through a splinedconnection for axial movement relative thereto between positions ofengagement and disengagement with said container wall.

5. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable containeroperable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articlescontained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch meanscontrolling energization of said drive means; a housing defining achamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for accessto said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; actuatingmeans operatively disposed between said lid and said switch means andoperable for actuating said switch means responsive to movement of saidlid; brake means engageable with a wall of said container, said brakemeans including an annular member axially movable relative to saidhousing between positions of engagement and disengagement with saidcontainer wall; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brakemeans with said container wall; and means associated with said actuatingmeans for operably connecting said lid to said brake means, movement ofsaid lid to a predetermined access-closing position being operable foractuating said switch means to energize said drive means and forovercoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from saidcontainer wall whereby movement of said lid to said access-closingposition initiates rotation of said container.

6. In an extractor as defined in claim 5 and further including meansresponsive to generally rotational movement of said lid with said lid inthe predetermined access-closing position for effectively latching saidlid to said housing while said extractor is operating.

7. In an extractor as defined in claim and wherein said annular brakemeans is splined to a portion of said housing for axial movementrelative thereto between positions of engagement and disengagement withthe bottom wall of said container.

8. In an extractor as defined in claim 5 wherein said connecting meansdisposed within said chamber is operable for effecting disengagement ofsaid brake means from said container wall responsive to an axialmovement of said lid to said access-closing position and wherein saidactuating means is operable for effecting actuation of said switch meansresponsive to the same axial movement of said lid.

9. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable containeroperable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articlescontained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch meanscontrolling energization of said drive means; a housing generallyenclosing said container and defining an opening for access to saidcontainer; a removable lid disposed in said opening and axially movablerelative to said housing to an access-closing position; brake means forstopping rotation of said container; biasing means for effectingoperative engagement of said brake means; means operably connecting saidlid to said switch means and said brake means and responsive to axialmovement of said lid to said access-closing position for actuating saidswitch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming saidbiasing means to operatively disengage said brake means whereby movementof said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of saidcontainer; and interlocking means operatively engageable upon rotationalmovement of said lid in said access-closing position for effectivelylatching said lid to said housing while disengagement of said brakemeans and actuation of said switch means effect rotation of saidcontainer.

10. In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said lid and saidbrake means are generally annular and wherein an axially applied forceof said lid is transmitted to the brake means for effecting saidoperative disengagement thereof.

II. In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said brake means isdirectly engageable with a wall of said container for stopping rotationof said container.

' 12. In an extractor as defined in claim 11 wherein said brake means isgenerally annular and splined to a portion of said housing and whereinbiasing means is disposed between said brake means and said housing tonormally maintain said brake means in braking engagement with saidcontainer.

1. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; control means controlling said drive means to selectively effect rotation of said container; a housing defining a chamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; brake means disposed at least partially within said chamber for engagement with a wall of said container; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake means with said container wall; and means operably connecting said lid to said control means and said brake means and responsive to movement of said lid to a predetermined access-closing position for overcoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall and for actuating said control means to effect operation of said drive means whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container.
 2. In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes switch means for controlling energization of said drive means and responsive to movement of said lid to said predetermined access-closing position for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means.
 3. In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means is spaced from said lid and is juxtaposed to the bottom wall of said container for engagement therewith.
 4. In an extractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means is generally annular and is associated with said housing through a splined connection for axial movement relative thereto between positions of engagement and disengagement with said container wall.
 5. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquiD from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing defining a chamber for receiving said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a movable lid disposed in said opening; actuating means operatively disposed between said lid and said switch means and operable for actuating said switch means responsive to movement of said lid; brake means engageable with a wall of said container, said brake means including an annular member axially movable relative to said housing between positions of engagement and disengagement with said container wall; biasing means for effecting engagement of said brake means with said container wall; and means associated with said actuating means for operably connecting said lid to said brake means, movement of said lid to a predetermined access-closing position being operable for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to disengage said brake means from said container wall whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container.
 6. In an extractor as defined in claim 5 and further including means responsive to generally rotational movement of said lid with said lid in the predetermined access-closing position for effectively latching said lid to said housing while said extractor is operating.
 7. In an extractor as defined in claim 5 and wherein said annular brake means is splined to a portion of said housing for axial movement relative thereto between positions of engagement and disengagement with the bottom wall of said container.
 8. In an extractor as defined in claim 5 wherein said connecting means disposed within said chamber is operable for effecting disengagement of said brake means from said container wall responsive to an axial movement of said lid to said access-closing position and wherein said actuating means is operable for effecting actuation of said switch means responsive to the same axial movement of said lid.
 9. In an extractor, the combination comprising: a rotatable container operable at extraction speeds for removing liquid from articles contained therein; drive means for rotating said container; switch means controlling energization of said drive means; a housing generally enclosing said container and defining an opening for access to said container; a removable lid disposed in said opening and axially movable relative to said housing to an access-closing position; brake means for stopping rotation of said container; biasing means for effecting operative engagement of said brake means; means operably connecting said lid to said switch means and said brake means and responsive to axial movement of said lid to said access-closing position for actuating said switch means to energize said drive means and for overcoming said biasing means to operatively disengage said brake means whereby movement of said lid to said access-closing position initiates rotation of said container; and interlocking means operatively engageable upon rotational movement of said lid in said access-closing position for effectively latching said lid to said housing while disengagement of said brake means and actuation of said switch means effect rotation of said container.
 10. In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said lid and said brake means are generally annular and wherein an axially applied force of said lid is transmitted to the brake means for effecting said operative disengagement thereof.
 11. In an extractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said brake means is directly engageable with a wall of said container for stopping rotation of said container.
 12. In an extractor as defined in claim 11 wherein said brake means is generally annular and splined to a portion of said housing and wherein biasing means is disposed between said brake means and said housing to normally maintain said brake means in braking engagement witH said container. 